County Records Zero Fire Fatalities for 2011

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

News Release 12-07
Date: January 24, 2012

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department recorded no fire deaths
for 2011, a first in its 62-year history.

A multi-pronged effort by field operations, fire prevention, fire and
life safety education, and the residents of Fairfax County contributed
immeasurably to a safe and record-breaking year. Operational firefighting
crews’ response to fire incidents, fire inspectors, fire protection
retesting and monitoring, fire investigators, and fire and life safety
educators, all provided a team effort in stemming fire deaths.

Additionally, community outreach programs also directly support the
department’s mission of “providing the highest quality of services to
protect the lives, property, and environment of our
community.” These programs include: Every Step of the Way, a
fire and safety program targeted to the most vulnerable, children and
older adults; “Get Alarmed,” providing free distribution and installation
of smoke alarms for residents; and the Juvenile Firesetters Intervention
Program, an educational intervention program targeted to juvenile
firesetters administered by a nationally certified educator.

The department also semi-annually, conducts a “Smoke Alarm Initiative,”
during the weekends of fall and spring daylight savings time, canvassing
selected neighborhoods throughout the county for working smoke alarms and
providing escape plans for residents.

Fairfax County, with a population of over one million residents, has
averaged more than seven fire deaths annually from 2000 to 2010.

For more information, call Daniel L. Schmidt or Captain I Randal Bittinger,
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, 703-246-3801 and TTY: 711.
Duty PIO (Weekends/After-hours): 703-877-3702
Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county programs,
services and activities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request.
4100 Chain Bridge Road
Fairfax, VA 22030fire-rescue.PA-LSEAfairfaxcounty.gov